MODULE SPECIFICATION
Code: UPHPKC-30-3 Title: Dissertation in History Version: 4
Level: 3 UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15
Module type: Project
Owning Faculty: Social Sciences and Humanities Field: History
Committee approval: QSC, Chair’s Action Date: 16th July 2009
Approved for Delivery by:
(indicate name of affiliated institution if module will only be delivered by them)
Valid from: September 2009 Discontinued from:
Contributes towards: Awards up to BA(Hons)
Pre-requisites: UPHPHG-30-3 - The Theory and Practice of History (prior to September 2003) or UPHPGN-30-2 - The Theory and Practice of History (post September 2003)
Co-requisites: Students undertaking this module must also be undertaking one of the special subject modules on offer in that year.
Entry requirements:
(if the module is offered as CPD or stand alone, indicate the entry requirements)
Excluded combinations: None
Learning outcomes:
Upon the successful completion of the dissertation the student will be able to demonstrate:
• that they have gained some genuine research experience and have fostered an understanding in research methods (assessed through both elements of assessment within Component A);
• the ability to undertake an historical, historiographical, or conceptual research project and presenting the findings of those investigations (assessed through both elements of assessment within Component A);
• that they have, through the writing process, developed a critical and analytical approach to sources and methods which, in turn, will have honed their understanding of, and their ability to apply, relevant hisotiogratphical debates, concepts, and approaches to their chosen topic (assessed through Element 2 of assessment within Component A);
• through the presentation of a written account of the research in accordance with professional conventions of layout and style a combination of investigative, creative and organisational skills valuable in most sectors of graduate employment (assessed through Element 2 of assessment within Component A);
• through the oral presentation, the invaluable skills of conveying a logical and structured argument to one’s peers (assessed through Element 1 of assessment within Component A);
• the ability to summarise detailed arguments or complex ideas in a clear but nuanced manner (assessed through both elements of assessment within Component A).
Syllabus outline:
Towards the end of the second year meetings and tutorials will be held to guide students in their choice of subject for a dissertation. Supervisors will be allocated to students and advise about how to proceed with research.
During the third year, individual tutorials will be held on a regular basis. In addition, students with similar interests will be grouped in Special Subject seminars where they can present their work for discussion and share problems.
Students will be expected to provide supervisors with two reports on their progress; one in the autumn term and one in the spring term of the third year. These reports will summarise the work undertaken so far; raise problems encountered in the research and give an indication of how the project will develop.
(This is set out in more detail in the handbook Dissertations in History: a Guide for Students, which is issued to all students).
Teaching and learning methods:
In researching and writing the dissertation the initiative lies with the student: students are expected to plan and implement their work themselves. The tutor will be one of the examiners of the dissertation. The tutor’s role, therefore, is to provide advice and constructive criticism as required, but not to provide the number of teaching contact hours or the degree of structure as they do on other modules. Students may expect to receive individual dissertation supervision during each term, to be arranged with the tutor at mutually convenient times. Naturally each supervisor will have his or her own preferred way of doing things. Initial preparation for the dissertation should begin before the end of year 2, when preliminary reading around possible topics for the dissertation is advisable. After the tutor has assisted the student in identifying a broad topic for study and the location of relevant primary sources, students can expect their tutor to advise and encourage them during each of the stage in the process of preparing their dissertation. Students with similar interests will be grouped in Special Subject modules. Special Subjects are taught through seminars and tutorials where students will be directed to relevant documentary sources and where they can present their work for discussion and share problems.
Indicative Reading List:
The indicative sources are specific to the dissertation that the student chooses to embark upon and are selected in consultation with the dissertation tutor at the end of year 2. Please see the relevant pages in the H90 Dissertation Handbook for further details.
Assessment
Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 100%
This is a project module with only one component of assessment.
ATTEMPT 1
First Assessment Opportunity
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Oral Presentation (20 minutes) 10%
2. Dissertation (10,000 words) 90%
Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Dissertation (10,000 words) 100%
SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is required.
Specification confirmed by ………………………………………………… Date ………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director)